John Halewood-Dodd column

John Halewood Dodd.

Published:15:00Friday 18 April 2014

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The tears that Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool and England captain, shed on Sunday following Liverpool’s victory over Manchester City has drawn all kinds of comment from football pundits and further afield.

Indeed, it was even mentioned on the national news.

There was speculation as to what brought this reaction from a player who is rightly heralded as a great footballer, but one who usually keeps his emotions in check.

Initially, it was suggested that this was the outpouring of emotion from a player who had spent his entire career at the club that he, and a great many of his family have supported, and this was the realisation that the match they had just won, against one of their main title contenders, left them with a realistic prospect of winning the Premiership for the first time.

Thus ending the joke asking which “ship” has never been seen on the Mersey?

Answer, “the Premiership “.

Gerrard later confirmed that the win had meant so much, but it was thinking of his cousin Jon-Paul who, at the age of 10 was the youngest fatality of Hillsborough, that had made him so upset.

Whether Liverpool go onto lift the title is irrelevant to me, but I was mightily impressed by Gerrard’s conduct.

We witnessed a footballing icon, and renowned hardman, bearing his emotions to the world in a genuine and heartfelt fashion.

Many people, and specifically many men, would struggle to follow suit.

In my opinion, we should not be so reticent as a good cry often does more good than harm.

You only have to ask my family what I’m like when “Surprise, Surprise!” is on television.

I do feel slightly embarrassed at the time, especially when my boys find it hilarious, but afterwards I feel much better for it.

I realise that my becoming emotional over a TV programme, intentionally made to elicit a reaction of that type, is not the same as Gerrard mourning the loss of a family member.

The point I make is that it is much better to exhibit an emotional side rather than keeping it bottled up.

Anyway if it’s good enough for the England captain it’s good enough for me.